Grace: Momentum Rule can be tricky

Several special rules come into play when action occurs near the goal line in games played under NCAA football rules. See if you understand all the implications of the “Momentum Rule.”

Play One — From the 40-yard line, the quarterback throws a long pass that is intercepted at the defense’s 4-yard line. The player’s momentum carries him into the end zone where he downs the football. What is the result of this play?

Answer — Because his momentum took him into the end zone where the football was declared dead in his possession, it is the defensive team’s ball, first- and-10, at the spot of the interception, the 4-yard line.

Play Two — The defensive back intercepts the forward pass at the 3-yard line. His momentum takes him into the end zone where he tackled while attempting to run the football back into the field of play. What is the result of this play?

Answer — Even though he was trying to run the football out of the end zone, the play ended in the end zone. Therefore, the momentum rule places the football at the spot of the interception. It is first- and-10 from the 3-yard line.

Play Three — On a punt return, the runner is running toward the end zone for a possible touchdown when he is hit and fumbles at the 7-yard line. The loose ball is scooped up by a kicking team opponent at the 4-yard line and his momentum takes him into his end zone. He attempts to run the football out of the end zone, but is hit and fumbles. The loose football rolls over the end line and out of play. What is the result of this play?

Answer — The football is declared dead in the end zone. The last player in possession was the player who recovered the fumble and whose momentum carried him into the end zone. Therefore, it is the kicking team’s ball at the spot of the recovery, the 4-yard line.

Play Four — On fourth down, the offense punts from the opponent’s 43-yard line. The punt is caught by the kick returner at the 6-yard line. His momentum takes him into the end zone where he downs the football. What is the result of this play?

Answer — The result is a safety. The momentum rule is only in effect when possession is gained inside the 5-yard line.

Play Five — The defensive back intercepts the forward pass at the 2-yard line. His momentum takes him into his end zone. Attempting to run back into the field of play he is hit in the end zone and fumbles the football forward into the field of play. The loose football rolls out of bounds at the 5-yard line. What is the result of this play?

Answer — A forward fumble that goes out of bounds returns to the spot of the fumble. That spot is in the end zone. The player’s momentum put the football into the end zone. It is first-and-10 from the spot of the interception, the 2-yard line.

Lee Grace is a member of the North Texas Chapter of the Texas Association of Sports Officials. Email your rules questions to him at gracel@timesrecordnews.com.